Foreboding Skies In The North (Mature)

[Jonathan Winters *Deceased*]

Long had the anger passed, as did the Winter of Jonathan Winters return, becoming again the submissive soldier. But, he almost did a double-take, suddenly feeling someone's hand touching his own. His face shifting slightly to see her.. Madelyn. Holding both him and the Student Teacher's hand, a pleading look in her eyes. Though he could not feel it.. remorse struck his thoughts. Stupid! Now's not the time to get into a fight, before the battle even starts.. Her hands drew away from the both of them, his eyes, from underneath his mask, watching her, as she quickly wrote down, -For her. For me. Please, do not fight. We are here for a common goal. Let us not squabble.-, Jonathan nodding in agreement. ".. Aye.. 'tis good merit that you show, that you know when to be submissive, boy, but.. I see you've grown, a little.." Huh? Without his own notice, his M82A1 sniper rifle was suddenly place gently back into his own hands. Jonathan looked up, at this unexpected kindness.. his eyes widening to see the Captain himself. "... Use this.. for when you need it." was the simple gruff reply. He knew of him? Well, it probably was just as well, Strong-Eye was of Captain Rank.. he would be able to know a little bit of his own history. 'As long as I could, eh?' Nodding subtly at the Captain's understanding of his situation, despite the fact his whole face was hidden, he saluted. "Sir, yes sir."

Quietly, not neccesarily noticing much of the people around him, as Captain Strong-Eye started walking forward, steps appearing before him, as he stood at a podium-like stand. Nodding again, in leave, towards Junpei, he turned towards Madelyn, wishing she could see his eyes, because he wanted to be able to.. 'talk' with her, as he usually would, but, there was a time and place. Instead.. his right arm slung his rifle to his shoulder, using his left arm to suddenly hug Madelyn tightly towards him. He was a soldier, a dog, but.. for how she made him feel, even with six or so pills.. soul giver, his wings. His wings, after his wings. But this pair, this pair of wings called Madelyn were so much stronger, could support him so much more better. He would never let them go. But, to test it, it seemed this mission had come up. All the more.. all the more. Walking beside her, his arm still holding her gently, but firmly towards him, he slowly made his way through, a little ways from Phae, watching as Captain Strong-Eye began to go into a rather.. attemptingly 'inspirational' speech. As for Jonathan, it looked as though it were put together hastily, no disrespect ment, and therefore.. possibly worthy of some merit.. nodding, his right hand going to his forehead, in salutation of this. It felt like the old times. Not neccesarily the good times, but, familiarity brought comfort to his mind. And then.. squad selection.

Evidentally, four squads. Alpha, going to take in the brunt, to deal the most punishment to all.. Omega to take on the role of heavy-support, or to literally blast anything apart.. something he suspected he would probably be part of. But, if that was so, Madelyn would be left behind.. no, he couldn't afford that. Delta seemed more reconissance type, scouting.. another possibility for what he may be.. and.. Bravo. General support, eh? The first captain, for Alpha.. the student teacher, Junpei Taltos, closely followed up by Phae, and a few others that he wasn't familiar with.. except for Robert. He'd be able to take care of himself, definetly. And twelve soldiers assigned to that squad? Indeed, the Captain was putting a large amount of trust into Arcane Academy.. trying to strengthen their relations, perhaps? Some of the soldiers looked uncertain, others, eager, but.. a definite excitement. So long as they were all obedient like soldiers, there wouldn't be any issues.

Next.. Omega. Darian Dumonte.. ah, the French gun-mage. Jonathan had a mutual respect for a fellow gun-user. However, other then that, he knew basically nothing else about him. Everyone else, except for Onira, who he didn't get a chance to know too well about, he really didn't know anything about. But, the Captain must've had a reason to assign such a group together. This would be.. interesting.

Afterwords... Squad Delta? Xeryth Varson, his fellow D-13 compatriot. No, he had not been given exactly the best of a first impression, but, it is not neccesarily the first one that always says everything about someone. He was Phae's.. 'little brother'. That had to count for something. A psychic.. he went on a very bloody killing strike, in Der Metzgermeister's class. He had no doubts of his leadership skills. He should probably give the last mic to Darian Dumonte, then.. as Xeryth, as a psychic, would be able to use his mental powers to make contact with the other squad leaders, if he guessed right. Nodding towards Xeryth, though his face couldn't be seen, he hugged Madelyn closer together. Looked like they would be in the same squad after all.. Bravo squad.

..And Bravo's Squad Leader would be..

...

Jonathan all but did a double-take. He would be the squad leader? But what about his stuttering?! Wouldn't that be an obstruction to relaying information? Ah well.. it would be like.. old times, he surmised, hugging Madelyn closer to himself, a strange uneasy feeling going over in his head. Madelyn was his teammate, at least. That was all that mattered.. but then, Celeste, Sieg, and.. Ethan? Who were they? Ethan.. sounded familiar. ... Had he seen him in the Dark Arts class? That was a rather.. uncomfortable experiance to say the least, one that he remembered regrettably. But no.. his head cleared again, the pills still working. There was a job to do. And.. he refused to see another 'Beast Revolution' massacre. Too many soldiers lost their lives, too many good men. Casualties were bound to happen even here, but.. it was good to be back. If only temporarily. His hug loosening slightly, as he looked a bit, to his squadmen from the D-13 assigned to him, some who looked at him, some who didn't. A rigid salute was given in response, and a nod, as he put his right hand down, to have any of the responding men go to at ease. His attention was caught at them, memories flooding in, even if the emotion was absent. He could at least.. 'act', as if he could still feel. He had a special pair of wings to thank.. that warmth he could feel from her touch was not exactly ravenous, but, there was a jealous feeling he had for her, and undoubtly, her for him. This time.. no mistakes, no time for self-doubt. Casualties had to be avoided, at all costs---

Undead?

..All the more reason to.

One of the late-comers.. apparently, had some information.. Jonathan himself wasn't exactly the most adequately equipped, but, provided he could make sure the bodies were cremated, or, at least were torn apart beyond repair.. his right hand fingered at the base of the butt of his sniper rifle, that hung aloofly at his side. Too concentrated, actually, so that he didn't even notice someone walking up to him.. “Um... J-Jonathan...” His head turned, his grip on Madelyn loosening slightly, as he stepped forward a bit. Xeryth Varson. Giving him a quick salute in acknowledgement of his fellow squad leader, but putting it down quickly and giving him a nod in turn, to show further respect to him, as a classmate, Jonathan's eyes watched as the young man approached him, albeit a little shyly, noting, perhaps.. slight hesitation? Whatever for? Standing firmly, waiting patiently, he waited.. as.. “I... I’m sorry... about all those days ago... I didn’t know... and I... I want to thank you for... for what you did for Phae... she’s important to me too. C-c-congratulations on becoming Captain of Bravo Squad. Y-you’ll do well there. Good luck, let’s... let’s get everyone out in... in one piece... right?”

At this.. not even E-Killers could stop him from smiling, underneath his mask.

His right hand shot out, to meet Xeryth's, taking the initiative. A friend of Phae's.. it was a pity he couldn't have met him sooner. He remembered how fondly, the sickly Rosenrot Phaedra Weiss even praised him, for how much he acted like a little brother. His hand gripping Xeryth's, he squeezed firmly, but not enough to overpower him. "..F-Fellow S-Squad L-Leader X-Xeryth V-Varson... y-you n-needn't a-apologize t-to a-a d-dog. You as well, Phoebe Weiss.." came a voice, through his mask, slightly 'concentrated', with all the air that was being filtered through, but, just a little over a whisper, always setting his voice to a rather low volume. "..I-I o-only d-did wh-what m-most I-I c-could, a-as a-a d-dog c-could.. a-as a-a s-soldier c-could, a-as l-little a-as i-it w-was. came a little more quieter voice. Loyalty. A vivid dream came to mind.. but then, that was only a dream. A dream before Madelyn. Something he didn't like, because it was wrong, yet, something.. just.. something. A possibility. His right foot led Jonathan closer to Xeryth, looking eye-to-eye with him. Was he in the best of moods? "...B-But, c-congratulations y-yourself. C-Couldn't h-have p-picked a-a b-better o-operative." A twing of memory, from Der Metzgermeister's class, popping in.. as he released his grip from Xeryth, taking a polite step back.

"I-It's j-just.. s-something t-tells m-me.. y-you w-will b-be a-a d-deciding f-factor i-in th-this m-mission. Y-You h-have m-my p-permission t-to t-tap i-into m-my m-mind, i-if y-your r-really th-that p-powerful o-of a-a psychic. K-Keep u-us p-posted, a-and I-I'll w-watch y-your b-back.."

A lot to say, to someone he'd only acquainted himself to.. but, there was no room for shyness here. His left hand crept back into Madelyn's hand. No... no room for fear of personal hinderances. Xeryth Varson... his thoughts could only wonder.. yes.. only wonder...

"..Y-Yes, th-though.. I-I u-understand w-what i-it m-means t-to b-be d-defensive f-for th-that s-someone."

A small nod given in respect to Madelyn.. his eyes, hidden underneath his mask.. slowly turned to stare at Xeryth. What sort of man would he grow up to be?

A small smile crept onto his face..

[Excel Esprit]

Excel listened attentively and squeaked as she heard what team she was on and her team-mates. Her face brightened quite a bit. Now, being a French young girl, she had no idea what 'reconaissance' meant. In French, it meant to recognize, but she knew that some word in English that were also in French, meant something different. Even in different situations words could mean something different. Point is, she'd have to ask about that to someone...

'Oooh! I'm so very very lucky!' she thought happily. 'I get to be on the same team with the two only friends I got!'
Her hands clentched tightly, only to release her of her building energy and to keep her from yelling or something. Yes, she was old enough to be mature, however she was still a kid and still had quite a bit of maturing to get to still.

Excel's brown eyes followed Lienn as she went over to some chairs, motioning her to sit beside her. Excel nodded quickly and skipped over to her, looking around before sitting. She wanted to tell Xeryth that he’d be a great leader however her eyes landed upon something...sweet. It literally made her face turn red just to see it. Xeryth and some other girl kissing! Aw! She contained her giggling at the sweet sight. What? She lived in the middle of no where, secluded from people and living with only her parents. Her only friends were ghosts! She didn't see younger people (Since Excel sorta classified her parents as being "old") do that ever.
Her head quickly turned away, 'Mustn't stare now, it's rude' she thought, twirling her finger through her hair and giggling softly. Like I said...she still had a bit of maturing to do...

As her head turned away, her face changed into concern as she saw the red-haired lady sitting there and seeming a little upset. Of course, the warm little girl wanted to help, however she was a little shy to just randomly go up to a person she had never gotten to meet before and asking what was wrong. Now she was going through a series of debates in her head on what to do, biting her lower lip and tapping her little foot on the ground. "Maybe she needs a little bit-a time alone" She told herself gently yet outloud, her eyes not shifting from her. The last thing Excel wanted to be was a pest.

"Peut-être je pourrais lui parler plus tard..." (Maybe I can talk to her later...) she said with a shrug, taking a seat next to Lienn finally and smiling gently. "I'm so very happy...that we are going to be on the same team!" she squeaked happily. "And maybe I'll get to know who Pheobe and Drake are! I hope they are as nice as you and Xeryth!" she clasped her hands together and smiled. "I just hope that...I don't let anyone down." she frowned then, bowing her head. She wasn't the bravest, she wasn't the strongest, naturally, but still with that she wanted to help. It was who she was. Now the only problem was...would she be able to use her powers to attack? She knew the possible concequences, of her receiving damage as well. And negative emotions and thoughts fueled her power in order to perform her attacks well. Excel didn't 'DO' anger that well...

Also, she had a feeling that her Astral Projection powers would be needed and she still was frightened of using it. As a soul she wasn’t scared of course, she could nearly be dead and not care. But once she;d be back into her own body…she sometimes had panic attacks or feel so overwhelmed with emotion that she’d break down. And what of her body? She’d need to leave it behind… ‘Maybe if I let one of my spirit Guardians assume control of it…no! No last time I tried it was horrifying! I can’t.’
Her thoughts stopped there. She’d see what would happen when it would happen. Plus she wasn’t alone. Lienn had the same power and so, she’d feel a tad bit safer.

[madelyn]

She didn't like to watch people fight. Her own past came up too often in times of strife between others. Yet, right now there was only one thing on her mind. She didn't want Jonathan fighting. They were about to go into a huge battle and she didn't know what would happen there. She didn't want anyone's last moments to be fighting and when Jonathan nodded she nodded back. She wanted to smile at him but right now she needed to be serious and for him she would be. He was the only thing that matter. More so than her life. The captain began speaking to Jonathan and the man.. well though he was a captain he was huge. His size and the scars alone forced her to hide herself slightly behind Jonathan. Knowing that most likely he would not harm her yet still he was huge and that was what was scaring her. She hated big men. She was only just getting used to the fact that not every man meant to hurt her. But the larger they were the harder it was to keep herself thinking logically.

The Captain finally left and Jonathan hugged her closely. An instant smile crossed her face as she looked up at him. She longed to see those beautiful ocean like eyes. The ones that held so much torment and so much love. She longed to speak to him yet .. that was something reserved only for him and she didn't want everyone to know. But she loved him. So much that many times it hurt to think about what could happen should she lose him during this battle. Yet, she would be strong. Because he needed her to be. When she was strong so was he and together they were a force to be reckond with. The Captain began his speech and Madelyn leaned into Jonathan gently as he did so. She did want to know in the very least what team she had been stationed to. She knew only Jonathan and Phae here so the other names rolled off the register and meant little to her except people she would be supporting when the time came.

Her heart rose fully and swelled greatly to know that she and Jonathan would be working together. She smiled. She couldn't contain not only her relief but her excitement at that. In the DerMetzgermeister's class they had worked well together and she assumed that here they would too. And together she didn't have to be worried about Jonathan and she could concentrate on the mission at hand and supporting those that needed it the most. She almost felt completely releived and relaxed until she bit her lip hard fighting back nausea. It always just came up suddenly with no warning. Madelyn closed her eyes and leaned against Jonathan even more one hand on her stomach as she fought it back. But she couldn't. Quickly she grabbed her notebook and ran to a shoulder yanking on his shirt she scribbled.. yes scribbled.. 'bathroom'. The solider looked down and nodded giving her the directions.

Giving one of those, 'I'm so sorry' looks to Jonathan. Madelyn ran. Moving faster than she ever had in her life and threw open a door slamming it shut. Ten minutes later a more exhausted Madelyn came out of the bathroom rubbing her eyes and looking a bit pale. She came back and she took Jonathan's hand and led him to the chairs. She needed to sit and she still didn't feel well. She rested against him lightly as one blonde boy and a red headed girl that looked a lot like Phae came over to talk to Jonathan. Madelyn closed her eyes only half listening trying deperatly to keep the rest of her soup down. But her eyes shot open suddenly when he began to refer to himself. Fire burned in her eyes as her face took on a different look, one of fierce determination as she waited for them to finish.

When he did despite how ill she felt she climbed into his lap. Straddling him in is seat she looked right into where she knew his eyes would be. Her own eyes were angry, at him. For such a wonderful person to think so little of themselves was silly and she hated when he did it to himself. She leaned in softly and reached behind him. As she did so she kisses his neck and released the latch on the back of his mask. The gust of presurized air sounded and blew against Madelyn's face softly her own face was palid and a bit glossy from the cold sweat she was breaking out in. Carefully she took the mask away as she pulled back and let it sit between the two of them. First her hand came up and carressed his cheek softly before she tucked his beautiful silken white hair behind his ear. Giving him all the comforts he loved so much. Her eyes this entire time looked right into his. Telling him that he was so much more than he thought.

She leaned in softly her eyes kissing him.. kissing him so softly giving her love to him in a way only he could understand. The back of her right hand going down his left cheek so softly so gently. Before.. her lips touched his. Immediatly the flower that was her soul.. the small red rose bloomed as it only did in his arms.. under his gaze.. kissing him. Spring had come to her soul when Jonathan had arrived on the scene and now she bloomed when he kissed her. She held the kiss gently for several minutes. The kiss broke and she looked at him with a smile. She leaned in hugging him again so that she could whisper in his ear.

"Not a dog." she whispered. "You know that. You are my angel, never think yourself less. I love you and you know that. Don't degrade yourself. You are entirely too special, I love you."

Only he would hear that. No one else for she spoke too softly. Her other hand stroking his soft white hair gently. She didn't want him to put his mask back on yet. She loved to see his face but his eyes was even better. For there not only lay his emotions but his words. Never could he and did he hide his emotions from her in his eyes. They were an open book. She looked into them pulling back. She kissed his forehead gently until she pulled back once more.

"I love you." she said softly once more as she held herself to him tightly. The mask squeezed her stomach and she bit her lower lip weakening her grip she closed her eyes and sat the mask in the chair next to them. Instead of moving herself she stayed. They weren't there yet and yes, it may not be the best place to cuddle but she was going to do it anyway. And so she stayed there in his lap her arms around his neck one gently stroking his beautiful hair as she closed her eyes and lay there with him.

"You are no more a dog than I am." she whispered softly.

[The Helper]

"Bump" in the Ceiling

A few of his compatriots from Arcane Academy, seemed to have ideas of their own, some, as well, even beginning to think that perhaps his speech wasn't the greatest. Well, it wasn't rehearsed or anything, so, in his own right, he deemed it acceptable. ..But, the news about the 'undead' from left Strong-Eye visibly disturbed. Drama's began playing out, as the Captain slowly walked back to his main chair, the main-stand disappearing..

"Oh, right.." he said, looking around.. snapping his fingers, as soldiers suddenly stood up, carrying over bags to everyone of the Arcane Academy students.. "A little bit of some 'field gear', if you need them.. if you get through here without using them, you're certainly welcome to keep th---" he began..

*CRRRRSHSH...*

"WHAT WAS THAT!?" as the whole hull of the shook, something from above making the whole room shake audibly, with the creaking of metal. Not just one person or soldier was knocked down by the ruckus..

"OH SHIT, I'm so.. nevermind.." as one the soldiers, ferrying about supplies accidentally shot off his tranquilizer gun, as he crashed onto his ass, due to the shaking, the dart finding itself right onto the neck of Junpei, as Mr. Taltos's weary eyes suddenly went blank, the soldier watching as he fell to the ground.. the Captain just barely noticing it, gritting his teeth. "..Shit. Phae. You're taking over Alpha, until Junpei recovers." as he stood up to his feet, looking back at all of them. "Drake, Celeste, get topside! Give me a report on what's going on!"

-Arcane Academy Students Have All Received 1 Mana Inhaler, 1 Mana Candy, 1 Endurance Fortification Potion, 1 Minor Enhancement Potion.

'Mana Enhaler':
-Up to 4 puffs.
-Painful (-1 Endurance).
-+5 energy, per puff.

'Mana Candy':
-One Use. Chewy in a good way.
-Pleasant.
-+3 energy on eating.

'Endurance Fortification Potion':
-+5 endurance on drinking.
-Bitter taste.
-Lasts 5 posts.

'Minor Enhancement Potion':
-Strangely fruity-delicious.
-+1 All Stats for 10 posts.

-Junpei has all, but been knocked out of the event! (Have fun dragging him around. He will get an oppurtunity to return, if he posts.)

-Only Drake and Celeste may post!

[Alastin]

The touch of an angel is said to be a rare and vibrant thing. Said only to be given to a man that was about to die. Drake felt Celeste's delicate hand cup his cheek and his eyes opened and stared into hers. His eyes were on hers and nobody else's at the moment. He had heard the squadron assignments and knew Seig her adoptive brother would ensure that Celeste would stay safe. That was what mattered to him that his angel stayed safe for the world to experience her pure and wonderful joys. He smiled at her a smile that nobody else received for in that moment both Dark and Drake were united in that one thought as they stared into Celeste's eyes. Celeste’s beautiful blue eyes were like shimmering sapphires that reflected her emotion and her innocence no matter how you looked at it. It was something that was to be treasured. To be understood. Drake in that moment understood.

In that one moment of revelation Drake knew in that moment he finally understood Celeste. He gave a smile over as he held her shimmering gaze and wanted to hold and treasure it. There was no other way to describe the powerful emotion that was going through him. Not the raging torrent of passion but, the echoing memory the echoing crystalline call of pure innocent love. Not the kind that people think they understand but, that moment of deep and inherent connection where you finally understand what they are thinking. Drake at last had obtained that single moment of peace and understanding Dark himself having experienced that before did not expect to share that experience with another. Yet here Celeste was sharing that moment of revelation, of understanding, of deep and budding emotions that could go anywhere at a single moment. In that moment Drake wished that he was born with wings or had the same ability to fly like Celeste not rely, on Dark’s powers.

It made him envious for that brief moment but, here Drake was staring into her beautiful gaze her upturned eyes on his and his alone. Nobody else received the gaze that she was giving him and in that moment he felt special, unique, treasured. All of these emotions he felt as he held her gaze. Her soft and delicate touch that was always feather-light it seemed was on his cheek. Touching, holding, caressing, memorizing. It was something that Drake could feel yet at the same time knew that he couldn’t obtain it fully yet. The potential was there but, the raw emotion was not yet explored. Drake knew that at once yet he was happy at Celeste’s latest development in understanding the world around her. He felt her lips on his and his eyes opened in surprise for a moment brief moment. Her lips on his in a gentle and stirring kiss that made him want to think and explore more yet it was a kiss that could start many things. She wasn’t kissing Dark who always knew how to play Casanova she was kissing him.

His eyes brightened slightly he felt like he could take on the world. Yet it was her words that had touched him the most before that kiss. Before that press of lips that had sealed the deal so to speak. Love. She had called him love. It was something that made his soul leap and sing for that pure uninterrupted, uncorrupted moment. Drake at first was stunned and surprised when she had called him that but, he felt even happier that she had called him that. All the effort to bring her around to make her understand things he had smiled on that even more. There was nothing that they couldn’t do it seemed. He smiled a bit more as he held her gaze and then gently took the back of her hand and placed a kiss on the back of it. Nothing could interrupt this moment right then as he held her beautiful gaze and then spoke. Spoke just for her.

“Celeste, I promise to stay safe, if it is within the strength that I have I will do everything I can to not only ensure your safety; but, also to ensure the safety of our friends and myself as you request,” Drake said in a soft voice to her as he brushed a lock of her hair ever so lightly. He gave a warm smile at her as he held her gaze it was something that he would never grow tired of. “Yet, your life comes before mine Celeste; I have experienced things that you have not at this moment. If I can give my life to save yours in this battlefield then I will. I have more memories to have made life feel more fulfilled.” Ever so lightly he touched her cheek and brushed another lock of hair out of the way from her face tucking it behind her ear. “That is a promise from me and from Dark, we have already told a great deal of our stories to the pages of time. It is time to explore and tell your story. For people to see for themselves what a wonderful person you are. I promise to keep you safe love.” He said with a smile as he heard a loud crash.

A shaking went through the entire blimp and Drake pulled Celeste into a tight embrace to keep her from falling. He held her close to him his eyes on hers as they had already received the field gear. Drake heard the order to get topside and nodded at Celeste he stepping back for a moment and closing his eyes. “DARK!” He called out in a loud voice that everyone could hear as he transformed into his alter-persona. The alternate entity that lived inside him. Drake’s hair turned into a long and deep purple that appeared natural not died or painted on. Long and luxuriant hair. He opened his eyes revealing not the gray eyes of Drake but, his own lavender eyes. The skin took on a tanner complexion and the clothes changed to black and gray combat uniform the weapons now evident as he gazed at Celeste. “Yo.” Came the deeper and more mature voice of Dark who gave one of those confident smiles at Celeste.

“I see we have work to do,” Dark said to Celeste as he closed his eyes for a brief moment and then snapped back rigidly for a moment. Large raven black wings shot out from Dark’s back the uniform already having slits just for the wings. They shot back and expanded to their full glory some soldiers having to back up. Dark gazed into Celeste’s eyes wordlessly for a moment before he pulled her close. He tilted her head up and placed a kiss on her lips, slow and sensual. His wings enclosed them for a moment to give them a brief privacy. With a wink at her Dark held her eyes. “Don’t worry about us Celeste, as long as your alive we will fight with everything we have.” Dark said with a confident smile as his wings folded behind his back. He turned his gaze to the sky for a moment and nodded at her. One of the doors was opened for them as Dark nodded at Celeste. “Be safe my angel and my light. Should one of us die in this battle I promise that we will finish the relationship we started in the afterlife. Yet don’t let that hold you back in this life.”

Dark turned his attention outside and folded back his wings before he ran forward and leaped out the door. His wings snapped out as soon and with a loud and audible sound they caught the air. Hollow sounding booms were heard as Dark road the winds and went down only to shoot up into the sky. His eyes studying the terrain for a brief moment as he waited for Celeste for a moment. Waited for her to catch-up Drake expressing his worry. For once Dark could not blame the sensitive young individual who he shared this body, this life with. There was something amiss at the moment and neither of them could understand what was going on. Something sinister and foul in the air that they couldn’t quite place at the moment. Dark turned his attention up but, couldn’t see it and flapped his wings hard shooting ahead of Celeste. Shuriken in his hands with explosive tags attached to them. These were to ensure the better safe then sorry measure as Dark shot up to investigate the topside and see what was wrong.

[The Helper]

"...CAPTAIN! TWO BOGIES HEADED THIS W---"

*DEAD AIR AND STATIC*

The captain looked up, as all four of their escorting jets all disappeared, instantly, only two other unidentified aircraft veering onto them. Shit... Ace Pilots!? They'd tear them apart.. but... wait, they were... leaving? Something in his gut strung him out.. oh dear God.. jamming his finger onto a button, screaming into the microphone: "DRAKE, CELESTE, ABORT, GET BACK DOWN HERE NOW---"

[shadow=brown,left,300]"Too late.."[/shadow]

Strong-Eye crumpled back into his chair. Oh God, what had he done!? 'HE', of all people, was up there...

* * * * * * *

CRASH..

* * * * * * *

A huge humanoid robot... carried between two heavy-duty custom Germanic helicopters, sitting between them, on a chained platform, jumped onto the top of the blimp..

[shadow=red,left,300][glow=red,2,300]NINEBALL[/glow][/shadow]

Hefting over what appeared to a.. 'heavy-duty' gun.. a large whirring sound could be heard, the hull of the whole blimp still shaking from the jump. Drake could only stare.. it was a grenade launcher. Standing up, it pinted, and aimed, at a certain angle, at the blimp ahead of it..

A huge swallow-blasting sound reveberating throughtout the sky, the clouds making way for the force, as the projectile made a direct hit... in the navigational center where Strong-Eye sat, looking at the first blimp.. he could only stare. About fifty men in there.. either dead, dying, or crashing into the waters below, surrounded by heavy metal to die... Drake, Celesete, get down here n-!!!

* * * * * * *

The cockpit gasped open, a man climbing out, with an air of confidence, shirtless, but with a black overjacket on, but opened up to reveal his chest.

[shadow=brown,left,300]"Vy, hullo zer.. I am Donar. Pleased to kill you."[/shadow]

Such a strange, cold smile... he jumped down from his machine... his jacket waving off in the fast-blowing winds, but, the way he moved, it was as though they did not restrain him. [shadow=brown,left,300]"I ist fourty-three years old.. hewwo!!"[/shadow] his eyes, closing, a cute smile on his face, as he tilted his head to the side. As if he were some sort of child, who enjoyed saying random things..

[shadow=brown,left,300]"Ich am so veeeerrry... sexy.. no?"[/shadow]

His right hand twitched, dully at his side, the smile growing larger..

Donar's eyes snapped open.

"BLITZ EDGE"

Almost inhumanely, maybe even best described best as 'inhumanely', his right hand, like a dead weight, hanging at his side, sprung to life, magical electric energy suddenly pulsating through the palm of his hand.. that look on his face, his eyes wide-eyed, his face still tilted, the teeth bared in a happy smile, almost strained... but there was childish delight in his eyes that made them twinkle, mischieviously...

:3..


"OH RLY!?"

Coldly smiling, his eyes opened so largely, as he was suddenly just a few inches from Drake, his hand just barely in front of his chest.

[shadow=brown,left,300]"..Vell.. vhat ve must do is... GET MY PONOS..."[/shadow]

His hand lifting dramatically, the energy pulsating larger and larger, waves of electricity beginning to emenate from Donar's own being, as he stared, his tongue outstretching, licking the tip of Drake's nose..

[shadow=brown,left,300]"TO YOUR VAGOO..."[/shadow]

The lethal amounts of electricity in his palm, slowly going forward, just on top of Drake's chest, giving him cardiac arrest, as Drake began twitching, unable to move, even if he wanted to, with all the electricity that was coursing in his body, from Donar being so near...

[shadow=brown,left,300]"..AND..."[/shadow]

...

[shadow=brown,left,300]"JAM IT IN."

The smell of burning flesh, of evaportating blood flooded into the air, as if just for Celeste to watch, as still laughing like a little boy, who just found something so stupid to be sooo funny, jabbed his hand in, breaking into Drake's chest, through the bone, clutching his heart... pumping it for him... Drake was already dead. The moment that Donar would stop beating his heart for him.. the life would leave his eyes, as it already was, blood splattering onto Donar, and the roof of the landing bit of the blimp, on top.

Pieces of broken bone were showering onto the floor between them, along with clumps of meat..

"YA RLY!"

Donar's whole arm beginning to glow, as a blast of electricity, out of Drake's back, Drake doubling over, his shrukien and tags still gripped tightly, his wings in tatters, falling off, as his back was all but broken completely, some bones still keeping Drake from collapsing on himself.. as Donar ripped the heart out, the blood pumping through the air, as he whisked it over, Drake collapsing to his knees, trying to collect his intestines that were beginning to spill onto the floor, the heart still beating, with Donar's magic instilled in it, giving Drake a few more moments.. as Donar looked at Celeste, the cutesy-wootsy look on his face still there, even as splashes and drops of blood littered his body, all over.

[shadow=brown,left,300]"..You ist cute looking girl... I give you a heart.. just dat it isn't mind.. ENJOY, BITCH.."[/shadow] came the sudden scream, as his left hand shot out to Celesete's jaw, forcibly opening it, as he rammed the heart into her mouth, making her chew, making her make it burst, as Drake suddenly welled up with electricity and pain that Donar was manipulating to keep him alive, and then..

A final glance at Celeste...

...And a loud, fleshy pop, the remains of Drake scattering all over the place, as Donar, still laughing inccessently, forced his hand over her mouth, forcing Celesete to swallow it..

This was Donar.

* * * * * * *

Down below.. the captain's hands were over his face. No responses. He stood up slowly.. looking at all of the AA students, his face obviously close to tears.


"...Your mission objective is to kill the man responsible for the death of about fifty men, in the preceding blimp.. and rescue your comrades. Hurry."

There was a knowing look in his eyes.. his brows, furrowing. Did he know who this man was? Quietly.. he seemed to slip on the rubber coverings for the blades of his gun, one at a time, the D-13 Soldiers, looking around, scared slightly. They had not been given orders. Did the captain not want this? Or, had he forgotten? Either way, no one wanted to volunteer them, to go topside, to deal with whatever had destroyed the first blimp...

MISSION OBJECTIVE:
-"KILL(?)" DONAR
-Rescue Celesete and Drake (Impossible for Drake)

Note: Be wary, as his skills and stats are several levels above all of you, maybe even combined. At best, just keep him busy.

The Nineball thing.. it is recommended that it isn't touched.

The following are things you can attempt to do, which will trigger a sequence of posts, possibly..

Trigger Event - 'Make Donar Angry'
Trigger Event - 'Admitting Cowardice To The Captain'
Trigger Event (Specific, Kheldar) - 'Obtain D-13 Canopy' (Talk to Captain)
Trigger Event (Specific, Phae/Junpei) - 'The Nameless Sword' (Attempt using it on Donar..)

[Setsuna]

A number of students seemed to become worried by Setsuna’s words, causing him more pleasure than discomfort, and, it wasn’t long before someone voiced that point, as a particularly disgruntled student shouted a demand of his silence. Under the normal circumstances, he would have carved the symbol of death into their chest, but in this particular situation, the gruff response was such music to his ears. He loved the sound of suffering, and this was a particularly fun one. ‘Anger mask’s fear’ he silently mused to himself.

As the other children scampered about, a second voice called out against his word. This time, the new boy tried to raise the moral again by downplaying Setsuna’s words. He tried to tell everyone how no matter what enemy they may face, human or otherwise, they would face it together, and that it would be no different to any other battle. Setsuna merely scoffed. “You have no idea… Ignorant fool…” He chuckled to himself. He was about to strike a further blow with grueling details of such creatures, and yet, he was never given the chance…

A loud explosion, followed by the violent shaking of the blimp threw the balance of all aboard. Setsuna’s eye’s twitched and his senses flared. “The other blimp…” He sneered. “They’re all dead.” He said through angered eyes. As much as he loved to cause suffering, he hated to think that the enemy was getting one up on him and those he had chosen to temporarily ally with. He heard the captain shout for two specific students to go topside and investigate. In the mean time, Setsuna shut his eyes, trying to feel out with his mind, trying to sense what was going on. He could feel the lingering lives of the men who had just been killed, and something else… Something powerful… “I haven’t felt such strength since…” He trailed off as he muttered to himself. Suddenly, he felt another life extinguish… Far more violently than the last. A long and excruciating death filled the air about him. He paused a moment to savor the taste, for such a pain was far too blissful for him to pass up. This tasting lasted but a moment in time, and yet it was enough to fill his mind with a refreshing sensation. In its scabbard, the blade of 80 days resonated. So many souls were being released into the night sky, and yet none of them were to be eaten. “Shhhh… These souls will find their way to their resting place… Yours shall be a more tasteful feast… You shall devour that which caused this atrocity…” And as though it understood his words, the sword silenced.

Another call was made by the captain, this time ordering all to avenge the deaths of his men, and to rescue those he had already sent to their fate. “Stubborn old man… I would have gone whether he asked or not!” And before any others could react, Setsuna dashed up to the exit, leading to the roof of the ship. He scaled the blimp like a man possessed, which ironically enough was what he embodied. And it was not long at all, before he reached his destination. What he saw, was a sight that few men could bare. It was a sight that strangely enough he was all too used to.

“You would make Lucifer himself proud with such acts…” He spoke aloud, announcing himself to the powerful being. “Such brilliance in the method… I myself found the taste of his death irresistible…” Slowly, he approached… Not menacingly, more interested in the man who stood before him, feeding a woman her man’s heart. “A master of the electric arts, and a mind full of death… Your power far exceeds that of any man or woman on this ship… But the fact still remains… That you are what stand’s between me… And my work…” His calm facade now hardened somewhat. “I’ve no notion of killing you… It is not my place…” His eyes narrowed somewhat. “However… I do intend to leave my mark upon your pretty boy face…” And in a split second his blade was drawn, and a slashing motion was made. His eyes snapped to the man, and he smirked as a thin slit of blood drew itself across the man’s face, simply from the sheer amount of manna expelled at such a high speed from the blade of 80 days. “I’m afraid you’re face isn’t quite so flawless anymore…” He said with a sneer.

[The Helper]

Night-Time Blitzkrieg

Theme Music

“I’m afraid you’re face isn’t quite so flawless anymore…” was the sneer. Donar just looked at him... his eyes wide, the blood trailing down his face...

He collapsed to his knees, holding onto his face, utmost pain in his eyes.

[shadow=brown,left,300]"WAAAAAHHH... WAAAAAAHHH... MOMMY... HE CUT MY FACE... Oh wait.."

His eyes leaked tears.. but.. the eyes themselves.. seemed to show nothing but a lucid delight..

[shadow=brown,left,300]"..I forgot. I killed her already."

Smile.

But it instantly dropped, a serious, but, almost overexaggerated face coming over his features, his eyes wide, his jaws dropped, as the blood kept trailing down his face.. his mouth opened, narrowly, smiling really, really overexaggeratedly at the newcomer.

"NO WAI!"

And in a blast of electricity.. Donar disappea-

"OH RLY!?"

His face just inches away from Setsuna's. With a lightning thrust, his lips gave Setsuna a quick peck on the lips, and somersaulted away. But.. strangely..

There was no blood on his face. Was the first one an electrical illusion?

[shadow=brown,left,300]"You're cute, you know that?"[/shadow]

He sat on his rear, his head between his legs, his hands resting behind him. But, in the innocent laughter that followed, his eyes never lost that look, that feel..

[shadow=brown,left,300]"I like killing cute things."[/shadow]

Bluish-green eyes flashing, he stood up, as if.. more composed, a more serious look on his face. Yes.. the ones on this blimp were strong.. and thus, were worth all the more for playing with. [shadow=brown,left,300]"You see.. the thing is.."[/shadow] licking his lips, as he extended out his right hand, putting his left onto his shoulder, as he slowly wound up his right first twirling, as if getting ready to punch someone, smacking his lips, his fists clenched, eyes closed..

[shadow=brown,left,300]"You see.. the thing is.. you've got skill, you've got talent. But your not an Arayan, ya? I've got every notion of killing you.. and everyone else on this ship. And given your weak body... you have yet many years zer, boy.. before yu'll be able to take me on, with that thing. Me..? 100% power... something you will probably never achieve.."[/shadow]

An evil smile crept onto his face. It was obvious. Donar was already faster, stronger, and had a vaster array of spells and tricks, as well as a load of energy..

"BLITZ STRIKE"

His whole arm, instantly glowing, he shot it down, towards.. the blimp. Immediatly, a bolt of electrical energy, tore into the hull, as if it were creme cheese on rye, slapping some tomato sauce, with a few thousand watts to kill someone. Indeed.. down below... the bolt just barely missed hitting anyone, but, suceeded in hitting parts of the engine, the bolt of lightning crashing down, through the entire blimp.. several thousand feet above the ocean.

Donar just smiled, his eyes twinkling with something delightful.

[shadow=brown,left,300]"..You amuse me, which is rare.. so, what's the name of the man I'm going to be killing today?"[/shadow]

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Donar's Remaining Energy:
-20 Energy for x2 "OH RLY!?"
-10 Energy for "YA RLY!"
-5 Energy for "NO WAI!"
-25 Energy for "Blitz Edge"
-15 Energy for "Blitz Strike"
=100 Energy Left

Nineball's Remaining Energy:
-342 Energy for CR-WB79GL
-+100 Energy due to coolant
=258 Energy Left

NOTE:
-BLIMP IS DAMAGED
-GET TOPSIDE AND DISTRACT/ATTACK DONAR FROM DOING FURTHER DAMAGE

[Setsuna]

As Setsuna completed his initial attack, the assailant began to fall apart at the seams, crying out to his mother. Setsuna couldn’t help but crack a small smile at the man’s willingness to put on a show… As he suspected, the man’s pride had not been as damaged as he had hoped, which was proven when he seemed to remember killing the woman who bore him. Suddenly, he screamed out what Setsuna could only describe as the most bizarre battle cry he had ever heard uttered, and in a flash of lightning, he was gone… But not for very long… In an instant, another bizarre scream filled the air, as he reappeared just before Setsuna, giving him a slight peck on his lips. And furthermore, the small wound was now completely missing. ‘Interesting…’ Setsuna mused silently.

The assailant commented on Setsuna’s appearance, and sat before him with a playful gaze. The man was obviously toying with not only him, but the entire crew… He added to his previous comment, and then returned to his feet, and wound his arm, as though preparing to throw a baseball… Well, that assumption wasn’t too far off… He stated that since Setsuna was not of the Aryan race, he would take pleasure in killing the white haired man. He also added how Setsuna possessed skills, but not nearly to a level high enough to take him on. He even went as far as to allude to the fact that he would never be strong enough to take him on. And before even giving Setsuna a chance to respond, he thrust a blast of energy down into the blimp shouting a more usual style of battle cry, causing a very damaging explosion, and almost throwing Setsuna off balance.

His gaze returned to Setsuna, once more twinkling with delight. In as sadistic a way as possible, he asked his new target for a name. This produced a small smile from the one he now sought. “Call me Setsuna… And remember the name well… For you are a marked man by the authority of hell itself… And when you reach that dark place… You will realize to whom you now face… The being with one eye in this world, and the other in the next…” His small smile became a sadistic grin on par with the one being flaunted by his opponent. “Remember my name… And realize that on the day you die… Your powers mean nothing… Donar…” He spoke the man’s name. Now perhaps he would think that Setsuna had simply been listening when he had introduced himself, but anyone who knew Setsuna well enough would know exactly how he had gained his name. That quick kiss… Those mere milliseconds of physical contact between the two men… It was all Setsuna needed. He had no grand details of the man. No list of his family, nor people he hand grown up with to taunt him. Just 2 things did he gain in that brief touch. A name… And a warrant…

"Perhaps you are right… Perhaps in this body I cannot kill you… Cannot best you…” In a flash, his sword was re-sheathed, and his hand extended towards Donar, his palm facing downwards, limp at the end of his limb. “But I can make you feel pain… Consider this my gift to the man who has everything… To the man who is untouchable by god… I give you back that pain which you have caused those around you… Receive my gift graciously oh warrior… Receive it, and feel once more alive…” In an instant, his hand snapped violently up, clenching his fist tightly shut, blood dripping from his palm as though he had just crushed a still beating heart in his hand. The feeling would be instantaneous and last only mere moments… But those moments would be undoubtedly memorable, even for one such as Donar.

The feeling of hellfire licking at your entire body is impossible to describe… The searing heat, as though it would melt your very bones if it were but to come near you, and yet it would not. An eternal torture, tearing at the souls of the damned… Donar would feel this for but a moment… But it would seem an eternity… And finally, he would feel the icy cold embrace of death, covering him from head to toe… These two sensations so painful… So mind wrenching, it would be more than a surprise for Donar when he would finally realize that it was not real… That his skin was not charred and black… His life, still continuing on atop that blimp. Most men would be driven mad… But Setsuna knew that this would not be the case for a man like Donar… No… He was far stronger than that… This was why he did not hesitate to make his assault.

The moment his arm fell, completing the technique, Setsuna was on the move. He fired like lightning across that blimp, his blood covered hand falling back to his dark blade, pulling the now resonating sword from its scabbard. If he was fast enough, he would plunge the length of his blade deep into Donar’s stomach, allowing him to slice away from the man’s body, creating a nearly unsealable wound because of the groves in the Katana’s blade. The specific reason for its shine… It would most likely be his only opening to deal any real damage… And if he failed, he would just have to hope that the other students would be able to keep the man distracted enough to get the blimp to where it was going. ‘Things always become more complicated than they should be in this realm…’ Were his last thoughts before that final moment of truth was to pass.

[Sieg]

Sieg yelled an order to Atticus. It was rather indistinguishable among the din of ruckus that was occuring due to this stranger's attack on the blimp. Atticus jumped forward and lay on his back, wings extended. Sieg ran forward and leapt onto Atticus' back as the construct soared out of the blimp and towards Celeste. Sieg's eyes were wide with fear as a pneumatic hiss sounded and two clamps slid over his feet to keep him from falling off of Atticus.

He saw Celeste, sitting there with a numb shocked look on her face. Her eyes were wide with fear as she sat next to Drake's dead body. He noticed the gaping hole in Drake's chest and the blood around Celeste's mouth and he could only fear the worst. Whoever this Donar guy was he was a sick bastard and Sieg wanted to make him pay for hurting his little sister. But for now he had to get Celeste to safety, she was in no condition to fight.

"Atticus move in towards Celeste!" he shouted over the wind as he unleashed of few of his flyer mini-sects. They would go and pester Donar to keep him distracted and off of his guard, hopefully that would give the guy he was fighting an opportunity to land a death blow. They would fly around his face and upper body stinging and biting in order to distract him. Sieg wanted Donar to die by his hands but unfortunately he knew it would most likely not happen. He was not exactly a combat mage and would probably be useless except for support in a fight with a guy like this.

Sieg threw out his arms as Atticus zipped by Celeste. He scooped her up quicky in one arm and Drake's body in the other. It didn't seem right to leave it there and allow that sicko to do anything worse to it. Sieg had Atticus quickly fly back to the blimp where he solemnly climbed off Atticus' back. He laid Drakes body in the corner and then wrapped his arms around Celeste.

"It's going to be okay Celeste," he whispered softly, holding her close against him.

[Robert]

Quietly that dark boy sat in the blimp. The aura about him seemed to fade only slightly, his small amount of relaxation seeming to expose within his closed eyes the fact that despite it all; despite everything he was and the pains he had endured, somewhere there was still the young boy named Robert. However, such a place he rested in was still shrouded in darkness. The shadows had formed their near unbreakable cage over the possibility of childhood, but even as such, he had to wonder. There was a time when he wondered about his future, as well as the present. So many questions.

Why do they hate me?

So little answers floated to the surface.

Why won't they come closer?

The nightmares of loneliness. So many loomed above, but more cowered below.

Where are they?

So little freedom.

They're gone.

The only answer he had ever concluded himself too. As depressing as it was, such a statement seemed to be able to be bent in one way or another to conclude Robert's numerous worries. Of course, the truth could be bent so many ways that one preffered not even to count anymore. On the same low note, as he preffered not to answer anymore, he came across not even asking the questions any longer. The day was strange when he realized that the questions would not save him, and that was eventually to become the last day he ever cried.

Tears.

Why did his mind wander to that? In one part of his imagination, he smacked himself for doing that once again. More questions, and yet purposeless answers. So much thinking. So much wondering. Of all subjects, why that?

[shadow=red,left,300]BOOM![/shadow]

Robert's eyes whipped open with the sound. Something had happened, as it seemed, to one of the blimps around the classes own. As he would soon find out, a man had attacked it, causing for the incredible carnage, and birthing so much worry. Panic. That would be a good word for it. But words mattered little. Hell, words seemed not even used. It seemed to be either screams or silence from the soldiers and the students, some already making their way to the soon-to-be task at hand.

"Your mission..."

There it went. The order was given, and it was time to complete it. Or at least die trying. Actually, it was strange how calm he seemed to be within the face of all the drama and activity. Passing on, as cliche as it sounded, rang no fear in this one boy. Of eleven years, and already his fear of the unknown had been passed on.

Almost with a practiced beat the boy quickly removed his black gloves, stuffing them in his jacket pocket as soon as he had done so. With merely that move, he triggered his body into running past the crowds at full speed, emptying his body into the stairwell after Setsuna. The two were both close range fighters, but it seemed quite obvious that their skills would nto work well together. Or maybe they would. That would have to wait.

He beated up the stairs as fast as he could, his weak build beginning to show within his own mind about half-way up. A pain in his side started fairly suddenly, but Robert was quick to ignore it and just keep running. As one may say, every second counted.

The child burst through the hatch at the top of the blimp, having quickly to widen his stance to battle the harsh winds. He squinted his orbs slightly, swift to find Setsuna and the other beginning their confrontation. At his arrival, the man had just given Setsuna a peck on the lips, somersaulting away and starting the drama. An attack on the blimp.

"BLITZ STRIKE"

Robert lowered himself to his footing, for a moment getting only the smallest of shockwaves. As soon as this passed, he looked outward, Setsuna now doing his ritual. It was at about this time that the bugs began to attack the man, and as it seemed, the samurai character did the same. But, where did Robert fit into this? More questions, but this one somewhat important to his life, as well as the continuation of it.

An idea.

Quickly he bolted forward, trying to get as close to the battle as he could without actually being considered a contender. That about placed him at 8 feet away.

Without even thinking about it, Robert began one of his two newly-created spells, pumping energy into his middle ear, as well as into his palms. The plan was simple. As Setsuna's blade moved forward with momentum, the man's senses would first decide to dodge it. However, when the blade got close and his nerves were about to react, something would find it's way into his mind.

A clap.

The strange roar sounded all around Robert and the others, Setsuna and the man probably finding themselves quite groggy, as well as with a skull-splitting headache. If their eardrums hadn't burst. Either way, one would find it quite hard to stand, caused so by the somewhat overload into the semi-circular canals in the ear which controlled balance. If such a thing worked, then the momentum of the blade would continue, but Donnar's reaction would be seriously flawed. Of course, if it hadn't worked, Setsuna might as well have been out of commision, and Donnar would still be ready as all hell to kill them.

Robert released the energy from his middle ear, his previous amount of defness now over. He looked onward at where the battle had taken it's toll, witnessing the effect it had taken.

[Ethan Yukimaru]

Ethan sat in his seat, quietly looking out the window in a trance state as he heard a bit of rumbling above himself. Quickly he broke out of his stare to see his commander, The Captain, begin to order Drake and some other girl up topside. Of course, the rumbling was all he heard, before that he was pretty much blocking everything out as he thought in deep silence. Leaning back in his chair, the man relaxed himself as he slowly closed his eyes, blocking out all the sounds that the world were sending him....

"So today we shall begin our training Ethan"

"But why Father? Killing is wrong" A young boy's voice said

"You might think that now, but death and pain are necessary"

"No they are not! Killing another person's life is something that no human has the right to do"

"But it is a unavoidable evil. You see, you might be young and innocent now, but soon you will see that humans are truly monsters in disguise. It is something we, the Yukimaru clan, have been entrenched in for centuries. We have learned that through the battlefield, where we saw humans as dark and evil as can be. So to inspire rule and control, you must learn power....And with it you must kill..."

"......Fine. I might not support this, but I shall obey you father...."

"Good, for soon someday you shall learn that war and death are the essence of we humans. You might not learn it today, or tomorrow, but some day..."

Quickly Ethan woke out from his trance once more as he heard more rumbling from topside. Looking around, he realized that something big was going on top of the blimp, something big. Quickly the man readied himself as he rushed past students running up. Upon reaching the top, he saw before him a Neo-Nazi terrorist that started to destroy things and behind him, a giant robot. Although cliche' for the robot part, this was still a very Serious threat. Upon watching him in action, he realized that his specialty was with lightning. Remembering his fight with Setsuna, the man got out a dozen or so ceramic wires....Which, by the way, do not conduct electricity, and in fact is a resistor to it.

"Time to let the blood begin" He said quietly to himself, trying to find an opportune moment.

As Setsuna rushed forward, blade toward the man's stomach, Ethan shot out his strings in a bullet-like fashion. The ends of the strings would try to pierce several spots of the man's body, specifically Chi centers which may reduce the insane amount of energy the Nazi was showing. The strings themselves were thinner then a pin, and were nearly unsee able to the regular human eye when moving at such high velocities. He also made sure that none of the razor sharp strings would hit Setsuna, as he was controlling their movements through his Energy deposits.

"I guess.....Father was right about war and death" He thought, his face remaining cool and calm.

[Mayon]

Mayon walked around the blimp in all its glory. It was such a spectacle he found it hard to hide his enthusiasm inside of him while he looked at all the technology. Technology was just one of those things that really got to him. He loved the looks, the lights, the sounds, and the speed most of all. Anything mechanical that could go really fast was something that would drive him crazy with delight. He couldn’t help himself when it came to something like that. If only he had more willpower when it came to things like that. He brushed his hand against the walls with his bare hands, as he wasn’t wearing his gloves, yet. He felt that the gloves also resembled the symbol that would appear on his hand. Every time it did appear the gloves would go on. Mayon put them on for years and years and eventually it was just a reflex. After a couple seconds of thinking about the scar he put his gloves back on as he noticed that the scar was starting to show. He could only think of one word, “Damn”.

Mayon thought back to the day it happened. The day his eyes became red, his hair became black, and the day the scar began to appear.

The Day

Like he had thought before, the day was beautiful. It was just after training when Mayon’s father went inside for a drink and Mayon was left alone to play in the backyard. Being five years old all he could think about was Alchemy, Alchemy, Alchemy. It was such a spectacle for a little boy and he had to do it all the time. He always wanted to try new types of spells and change new things. He ran around that whole day for extra training. He was such a determined little boy, always training his hardest and never giving up. Some would call him stubborn, in fact that’s what he called himself as he didn’t know what else to call himself. But that day all he could think about was Alchemy.

Mayon walked into the shed to look for new items to try Alchemy on. When he saw the bag of powder he thought it would be interesting to turn it into a solid. He drew a transmutation circle on the ground of the shed. He then pored some gunpowder into the circle. Mayon knew that you needed to know what a material was made of, up to the smallest atom, to be able to transmutate it. You had to have keen examining skills and be fairly smart. He figured he knew enough of the gunpowder but unfortunately he was wrong. And that is how it happened.

All Mayon remembered was the sound of a loud boom. He then woke up in the hospital several days later. The doctors of course only though that a little boy had gotten into supplies in the shed and had an accident but Mayon’s family knew it wasn’t that simple. With his father at his bedside Mayon looked in a mirror. His hair had changed color, permanently. His eyes were scorched but healed over the days. Unfortunately the irises were so damaged that they stayed blood red. And Mayon’s hand was all wrapped up. As he unraveled the bandages he didn’t see anything unusual. But then he noticed that a scar appeared. When he tried to put the bandages back on to conceal it seeped through in the form of black ink. It was awful.

Mayon still didn’t know what happened to him that day, and it didn’t make sense that the scar appeared the way it did, in the form of a transmutation circle. He was almost positive someone else made it but he had no proof or evidence. The only thing he did have were the changes to his body, which he had never come to like. He always wanted to be blonde again but with his dark hair, it was practically impossible to dye it that color. As for his eyes, he just couldn’t wear contacts. They bothered him far too much.

Mayon snapped out of his little memory. He looked at the ground. He hated this new look but had come to live with it. And is someone did do this to his arm then why him? He didn’t know the answer and for now it didn’t matter. That was especially after what happened next. He really snapped out of his deep thought when he heard the top of the blimp making a lot of noise.

Mayon made his way up to topside. What the heck was going on up here? He looked around to see a man standing in front of the...the...THE MOST KICK ASS BATTLE MACHINE HE HAD EVER SEEN. Before he even thought of anything else he kept pacing the blimp for a better look. It was amazing. The craftsmanship done to the whole body, the detail, the color, the weaponry, and think of the speed that puppy could make. The thrusters must make it go at least twice as fast and the weaponry but cause incredible damage to those unwary. It was astonishing. He gaped at it. He was so impressed with this man that he had forgotten he was the bad guy. But he remembered and forced himself to snap out of it. But it was just such an amazing machine.

He looked at the man who must be the pilot. Mayon envied the lucky bastard. He had such an amazing machine. He would do anything to pilot it. Just once. Just for a minuet. Oh god, it was eating him up inside. He couldn’t help but go from the problem to the machine, over and over. It was crazy.

He looked at the others around him. He realized that they were all ready to fight and Mayon realized that he had to be too. He looked around and saw that one of the blimps had been destroyed. How could this man kill so many people? But Mayon thought of this man as a god as he got to pilot the ultimate weapon.

“Hey, you’re the pilot of that thing right? I just want to tell you I can’t be more impressed with it. It is remarkable and I would do anything to pilot it. Unfortunately I guess that is impossibility. I wish you didn’t have to be one of our enemies or I would’ve looked up to you. I just can’t get over how remarkable it is. It saddens me that you use it for such evil but I guess it can’t be helped. But let me just say I hope this is an honorable fight.”

Mayon took out a couple of light chunks of metal in his cloak. He then removed his cloak and reached in his pocket for a transmutation paper. He wrapped it around the chunks of metal and activated it, creating a long spear.

“Lets do this guys.”

[Celeste]

The day was going rather well. She stood next to Drake and she was ready to fight. They would find those missing D13 soliders and they would do their best to find everyone and bring them back safe. With all the mages they had here at their dispossal they could do it she felt sure.

Drake touched her gently and she smiled looking up at him as he began to speak. She listened but she was already bringing up what she wanted to say to him. When he was done she would speak. Yet, right now she didn't want to give up a moment of her time with him.

"Don't be foolish. Look out for yourself. I will be fine. Please do not waste your time on me." she said softly as she kissed him again. The blimp took a hit and she screamed being knocked off balance. But Drake caught her and pulled her in close. His voice rang out and the last she saw of his face was him changing into Dark. He soon changed and and she looked up at the voice change.

"Please.. please come back to me." she begged as he pulled his wings around her and kissed her deeply. She was afraid for the first time in so very long she was truly afraid. Something forebodding but what she would never know.

Dark left her and flew out the window. It was time for her turn. Time for her to do her job and she was as ready as she would ever be. She thrust her shoulders back and her great white angel wings came out with a loud sound as she readied herself. She kissed Seig's cheek and jumped out of the blimp letting her wings catch the air as she flew after Drake.

She didn't hear the captain call them back. She was on a mission and right now Dark would need her. The landing clip of the blimp was their destination and she saw that Dark was already fighting. She landed nearby but what she saw horrified her. Dark she thought was fighting turns out he was convulsing under the horrid ministrations of the man holding him.

"NOOOOOO!" she screamed as she watched in utter horror as the man tortured her love. "STOP IT!"

But of course that was not so easy. He wouldn't listen and with a grin he pierced his chest holding his heart in his hand. Celeste backed up against the blimp watching in utter horror and she collapsed to the floor and watched shaking violently. Tears rolled down her face as her heart litterally broke like shattered glass. Lifting up the limping body of Drake bone and flesh flew out as blood sprayed everywhere from his now open body. His intestines fell to the floor and Celeste's stomach lurched.

He twisted and pulled bringing the heart and Drake's body closer to her as he convulsed with electricity. Celeste could only look up in horror the tears mingling with the blood.

"Wh..."

She tried to ask the irrational man why he was doing this and how he could be so terribly cruel. But Drake's heart was shoved into her now open mouth and her stomach lost all contents. Or would have had the man not been controlling her mouth keeping everything in. The blood leaked down the back of her throat and her eyes opened wide. Forcibly he made her chew Drake's heart and try as she might struggling as hard as she could he held her. She didn't want this. She wanted him back. Her love's body now limp and lost on the floor beside her. She felt the muscle pop in her mouth and in that moment her eyes went blank. Clasping his hand over her mouth he forced her to swallow everything and lost all emotion. She was gone now. Celeste was no longer present in her own mind.

She collapsed on the ground next to Drake's body. She no longer had the will to do anything. Blood covered not only her face and dripped from her now open mouth but it was all down her clothing and her front. The man she had finally told her feelings too had just died and she had eaten his heart. Tears leaked from the dead eyes.

She no longer felt a thing. No longer saw, or heard, or anything. She was just gone. She did feel warm arms around her. But they weren't HIS and that didn't mean a thing. She didn't hear the voice or see the familiar face of her brother Seig. She was lost inside herself reliving the moments over and over again. He was gone to never return.

When his heart had died so too had hers. If she didn't have a physical hold in her chest she sure had an emotional one. There was no heart where there once was. To listen you would hear the beat but to see her you would know that she had died. Heart and soul. She was gone.

[Xeryth Varson]

As Winters returned the handshake, Xeryth felt a small smile creep across his face. For the time being, if not for good, things had been repaired between the two, and Xeryth was quite relieved to know this. At Winter's allowance of the younger boy to tap into his mind if so desired, Xeryth nodded in reply.

"You... you have the mics... and I'll have your mind... together... together we can link the entire squad..."

Xeryth nodded again, his fingers clasping around Phoebe's as she came up beside him. He opened his mouth once more, to say something else, but his words were viciously crammed back down his throat by a sudden jolt, a shockwave, a rippling concussion that tore through the dirigible and caused almost all present to look about in shock. Xeryth, in particular, cowered back, lowering his head and looking up in a futile manner, trying to protect himself from any debris that would fall. When none came, however, he quietly and casually brought himself back to a normal standing position, his hold around Phoebe's hand tightening in worry. Acting quickly, Captain Strong-Eye ordered two operatives, of which Xeryth had had no previous engagements with, up top to investigate. Acting quickly, the two scampered up topside, while the others quietly and uncomfortably mulled about in the hold. Whatever was going on, it was obvious that something was amiss. This wasn't a simple rainstorm they were flying through. Anything that shook the blimp that hard was likely an attack of some sort, and this sent quivers of fear down Xeryth's spine.

An attack... I'm just not ready. First this sudden appointance to Captain of Delta Squad, and now this? It's all too much. If that is an attack, I simply don't know what I'll do. Anyone who would attack an airborne D-13 convoy would either have to be incredibly stupid, or incredibly powerful... what to do, what to do...

As Xeryth mulled it over, Strongfield suddenly barked out another set of orders. It was clear, from the worry rolling off his person, worry that rivalled even Xeryth's own, that he had some idea of what was going on up there. Regardless, he attempted to send those in the hold topside, a rescue mission, of sorts. Without another word, the strange man from before quickly took off, causing Xeryth's eyes to widen in amazement. Whatever was up there had to be powerful, if not for the simple fact that Captain Bardy Strongfield, the leader of this strike, looked close to tears, if not already, was enough proof, there was also the fact that, whatever was up there, even Xeryth could feel his power. The simple psychic, who could not cast an actual spell to save his life, could even sense the powerful energy emanating from whatever it was above there. Coupled with the inherent caution as to the clearly unstable emotions rolling off of the presence in tandem with that seemingly unstoppable energy made Xeryth hesitant to follow suit.

When the lightning crashed down through the blimp, directly through only a few feet off to his side, that cinched it completely.

Almost seizing up in fear, Xeryth's eyes widened and his mouth opened, but with teeth shut tight together to stop them from chattering. His entire body trembled with such velocity that it neared on convulsing. Occasionally, the boy would blink, almost as if trying to wipe the entire scene away with each one, as if it was just merely another bad dream, one in which he could wake up at any time and be safe back in his bed. But alas, after about twenty blinks, no such revelation came. It was time to deal with the hard facts.

A few others went up, knowing that, if they didn't, the being above would likely bring the entire flying machine into the ocean. Xeryth, on the other hand, was completely paralyzed by fear. Strangely enough, however, the fear was not completely the fault of the power source above. Much of that fear still came from the worries the boy still held about himself.

Whoever is up there, he is powerful... and I... I could help... but to do so, I'd risk losing it again. I'd risk doing as I did in Der Metzgermeister's hell... and becoming that killing machine. I don't think I can do that. I don't know what to do.

His eyes scanning the crowd, Xeryth desperately tuned in on the emotions of others, hoping to find a sympathetic ear. As scared as he was, Xeryth wanted to help, he HAD to. He knew that he couldn't simply sit back like a baby while the 'big boys' went and dealt with whatever was up there. But, he was so frightened, of the being, of himself, of almost everything, and it was all hitting him right here and now, of all times, of all places. Scanning the group before him, the only person that seemed to be matching his emotions, at least in any connectable way, was none other than Captain Strong-Eye himself.

Finally releasing his death-grip on Phoebe's hand, he looked over at her, unable to release the worried, frightened expression from his face. Silently, he held up one finger, telling her to hold on, and quietly slunk over towards the captain. A new fear entered him, fear of censure by the captain, but regardless, he did his best to make his way over to him.

"C-Captain..." Xeryth started weakly, offering a half-hearted salute along with it. "I... I... I don't think... don't think I can help. You... you see... I'm... I'm no soldier.... I... I don't know if... if you know my past, Captain... but... I'm no soldier... even if I should be..... I'm scared. I'm scared of that thing up there... and... and... I... I'm scared of.... scared of myself... should I have to... have to go up there and help...... I... I'm sorry sir.... I'm failing you already... a horrible captain you've chosen...."

Xeryth hung his head, accepting whatever censure or punishment the captain would give him for his cowardice. He wasn't entirely sure what he had hoped for, but now, at this point, all hope was gone. He simply wished that, whatever happened to him, the others would pick up his slack, and head topside to save him from the being above, and from his own weakness.